Roadbuzz, my post wasn't worded clearly, and it could give the impression I clean my chain using a Park chain cleaning gadget.

I was really referring to the Park chain removal tool, which is particularly cool because it cannot (ha! ha! I'll bet...) drive a rivet all the way out of the link. Well, in practice it does work very, very well.

But back to the chain cleaner--I used to have one, in fact, but I gave or sold it to my friend Greg. I decided I didn't like it.

I just clean my chains with a fingernail brush and dilute citrus solvent. I've seen Simple Green in stores but never tried it yet. The citrus solvent is much cheaper than it used to be, if you find it in the right place. I like the way it smells, the way it doesn't seem to hurt my hands (I admit I rarely have cuts or abrasions there, though--I'd probably have to use rubber gloves in that case), and the way it is so versatile.

When I am feeling foolishly energetic and the chain is disgustingly gunky, I will remove it and swirl and toss it around in a big plastic bottle with dilute citrus cleaner. That does a better job by far than on the bike.

But then I am always glad I have two bikes, for I'm no mechanic, and I always have to study the way the chain goes on the other bike in order to get the one I removed back in place. The rear derailleur confuses me every time.